Homelander couldn't help thinking back to his time with Maeve.
He had always treated Maeve with the utmost control and possessiveness, allowing her no resistance.
Yet back then, he had thought it was all perfectly normal. He was Homelander, so he took it for granted that everything in the world should revolve around him.
Only later, under Soldier Boy's repeated influence, had Homelander begun to think differently.
He had tried treating Ryan differently from the way he had treated Maeve.
He respected Ryan's thoughts and accepted Ryan's choices, offering only guidance and suggestions, never forcing Ryan to do anything he didn't want to do.
At first, Homelander hadn't been comfortable with this way of interacting. Every time Ryan defied him, his urge to control would even rear its head.
But every time, Soldier Boy's advice would pull him back onto the right track before he strayed too far.
Over time, he had gotten used to it.
And his relationship with Ryan had grown better and better. Like many fathers and sons on television, they got along well and talked about everything.
With that practical experience behind him, Homelander had come to agree more and more with Soldier Boy's "philosophy of letting go."
Pull a kite too tightly and the string would snap. Loosen it a little, and it would fly higher instead.
Homelander wholeheartedly agreed, which was why he and Maeve had been getting along so happily lately.
"Is this the fucking reward for becoming a superhero... fuck... so cool!" Homelander squeezed the words through his teeth, struggling to contain his delight.
He couldn't wait to talk to Maeve face-to-face.
Not about ideals or ambitions, just about their little rose.
Homelander dove like a falcon.
Fierce winds, clouds scattering in haste, light distorted by his speed... With a bang, he